Nursing at NYGH

Nurses who work at North York General Hospital (NYGH) are passionate about promoting excellence in nursing practice and education. At NYGH, nursing professional practice is evolving and guided by professional standards and principles, best evidence, technology and innovation. Our outstanding nurses continually strive to make the experience of patients and their families the best that it can be. Join North York General, a vibrant organization where your role as a nursing professional is valued and where you will have many opportunities for professional growth.

Continuous learning

Nurses at our hospital participate in reflective nursing practice, continuous learning and interprofessional education and collaboration. We offer many opportunities to learn, teach, collaborate, participate in research and develop leadership skills. You can be involved, either on the Nursing Professional Advisory Committee or in our many quality improvement initiatives.

Teaching role

NYGH nurses are highly respected and sought after as teachers and mentors. We have a strong academic connection with the University of Toronto, and our nurses have opportunities for clinical appointments. Similarly, we have over 21 affiliation agreements with nursing faculty at colleges and universities across the GTA and beyond. NYGH teaches approximately 1,000 nursing students annually.

Orientation

Nursing staff are given extensive orientation and the length varies according to the unit and the individual nurse's needs and competency. Nurses are supported by a clinical team manager, clinical educators and advanced practice nurses to develop and apply their skills. 

Professional growth

North York General Hospital is a multi-site community teaching hospital with many specialty areas that offer unlimited career choices within nursing. There are many opportunities for nursing staff to “walk in variety of nursing shoes” without having to leave the hospital. We provide an enhanced orientation and mentorship program, retention and recruitment initiatives, and career mobility.

We offer diverse roles for registered nurses and registered practical nurses. All nurses are supported in their professional nursing practice, education, research and leadership roles.

Here's a list of roles held by nurses at North York General:

  • Unit coordinators 
  • Clinical nurse specialists
  • Advance practice nurses 
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Clinical nurse educators
  • Professional practice leader
  • Clinical team managers 
  • Program directors 
  • Clinical support 
  • Clinical informatics 
  • Risk manager 

Leading-edge technology

NYGH is in the forefront of using technology to improve patient safety and care. On April 1, 2011 we become one of only three large hospitals in Canada to receive a level 6 from HIMSS Analytics, the research arm of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

New graduate guarantee 

The Nursing Graduate Guarantee is an initiative of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care aimed at ensuring that every new nursing graduate (RN and or RPN) who wishes to work full time in Ontario will have that opportunity. NYGH actively recruits new nursing graduates in all our programs and our speciality units such as Critical Care, Neonatal Intensive Care, Labourand Delivery and Emergency. Our new graduates have expressed great satisfaction with their experiences in the New Graduate Initiative at NYGH. We have a 98% proven success rate of retaining our new graduates.

New graduates interested in the Nursing Graduate initiative must register on the Ministry online employment portal.

Late Career Nurse Initiative 

The Late Career Nurse Initiative (LCNI) is designed to support experienced nurses to remain in the workforce by offering opportunities to use their nursing knowledge, skills and experience in rewarding but less physically demanding alternate roles for a portion of their time. Over the last six years, our Nursing Professional Advisory Committee, in collaboration with our Chief Nursingand Health Professions Executive, and nursing leadership team, submit an annual proposal to the MOHLTC Nursing Secretariat.

We have successfully received funding for late career nursing projects. Our Late Career Nurses are enthusiastic about LCNI and have expressed enhanced job satisfaction with the rewards that come from working in an alternate role. 

Nursing Capacity Initiative — Registered nurses

In 2011, NYGH embarked on the Nursing Capacity Initiative (NCI), an innovative new approach to advance nursing careers and enhance the knowledge and skills of our registered nurses. The initiative enables nurses to broaden their career paths. NYGH nurses are able to explore new specialties — for example, in areas such as Mental Health and Critical Care. 

RPN — Full scope of practice 

At NYGH, both registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) are valued members of the health care team. We support our RPNs to practice at full scope by utilizing the College of Nurses of Ontario's three-factor framework (nurse, patient and environment) to guide our practice and decision making. Using theRN/RPN skills mix allows the appropriate category of nurse to care for patients based on stability, predictability and complexity of care needs.